Sarah Beeny: My precious moments

TV presenter and mum of four, Sarah Beeny recalls the best, and worst, bits of family life

Did you always plan to be a mum?

I think so… well, I never planned on not being a mum. I guess I always wanted a big family.

Describe birth in one word?

Ouch!

What’s your favourite thing about being a mum?

It’s like a love affair where you don’t care if they love you back or not. I finally understand what being selfless means.

What do mums have to accept?

From the minute you give birth you’re going to feel guilty for the rest of your life. You’ve just got to learn to roll with it.

The biggest mistakes you’ve made?

Oh millions… I buy them too much, which annoys me because sometimes I think it’s more about satisfying myself than them.

What could you do better?

Many things. I’m weak about bed times, which means they don’t always get enough sleep.

What does your husband do better than you?

He’s firmer with them and he’s good at saying stuff like, ‘That’s your silly fault!’

What would you do differently?

I think I’d try not to indulge them quite so much. When we were chatting about costumes for my son’s scary-themed party I wanted to make the outfits, but they thought it would be better if I bought them instead. I think that’s probably a direct result of being over-indulged.

What’s been your most embarrassing moment with the boys?

My third son, Rafferty, who’s two, likes shouting out ‘bum head’. Last week he said it to an old lady in the supermarket and the other boys practically wet themselves laughing. It was funny, but…

And your biggest panic?

When he was three, Charlie, my second son, jumped off the kitchen table and ended up face down on the stone floor. We went to casualty where he started going floppy. I called over the nurse and she pressed this big red button and screamed ‘Resuscitation!’ When I asked if he was going to be ok they just said, ‘Be quiet.’ It was pretty scary.

Why did you choose to name your youngest son Laurie?

My husband Graham chose it. We were thinking he might be a ‘Kit’, but when he came out we changed our minds. We called him ‘Baby’ for the first three weeks of his life.

What makes your kids laugh?

Bottom and willy jokes. Sorry.

Fantasy babysitter?

Nanny McPhee. The boys call our babysitter Pammy Poppins.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

A pedicure, maybe twice a year. It takes about an hour, but I can take my laptop.

Would you like more children?

Yes, but my husband won’t let me. He says I can have more with my next husband.